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Additional Credits

Video

Photographer Statement

In December of 2010, I was in Port au Prince working as a journalist covering the elections and preparing a one year update on the earthquake’s effects. One afternoon I noticed men carrying metal out of the Ministry of Finance building and went inside to take a closer look. I found the building almost completely gutted by fire and severely damaged by the eathquake. Men and boys were working, removing metal and wood. The dismantling of a beautiful old government building for scrap was a startling sight to an outsider but perhaps sense to the hundreds living in the nearby tent encampment on the Champs de Mars. In my down time over the next few days i followed several and learned more about what they were doing.

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Caption:
Youths searching the former Finance Ministry building for scrap metal in downtown Port au Prince.

As Haitians were struggling to recover after January 2010 earthquake, eleven months later a cloud of uncertainty hung over the capital, thousands still lived in tent camps, and a cholera epidemic had spread to Port au Prince.

Scrap metal scavengers had become a common sight, and could be seen pushing large carts of metal towards DG scrapyard on the outskirts of town. There it was weighed, loaded into containers to be shipped to the US for processing.

These entrepeneurs thrived in the new reality of post earthquake Port au Prince. The high cost of building materials and prices paid for scrap metal and downtown streets lined with damaged buildings created a niche.

As presidential elections approached, survival was on the minds of many and men could even be seen working to recover anything of value out of the former Ministry of Finance.

Man carrying a load of scrap through the remains of the Finance Ministry building in downtown Port au Prince. Haitians desperate to earn a living are turning to selling scrap as a way to earn cash and the multitude of empty and collapsed buildings are providing sources of materials to sell.

Man loading his cart after scavenging the Finance Ministry building for scrap metal in downtown Port au Prince. Haitians desperate to earn a living are turning to selling scrap as a way to earn cash and the multitude of empty and collapsed buildings are providing sources of materials to sell.

Youth scavenging the former Finance Ministry building for wood in downtown Port au Prince. Haitians desperate to earn a living are turning to selling scrap as a way to earn cash and the multitude of empty and collapsed buildings are providing sources of materials to sell.

A youth looks around warily after emerging from the Finance Ministry building with wooden boards in downtown Port au Prince. Eleven months after the devestating earthquake struck, Haitians desperate to earn a living are turning to selling scrap as a way to earn cash and the multitude of empty and collapsed buildings are providing sources of materials to sell.

Three men using a hacksaw to cut metal from the ruins of the Finance Ministry in downtown Port au Prince, December 3rd, nearly eleven months after the massive earthquake struck the Haitian capital. The men worked openly at midday, despite the grounds being patrolled by a security watchman armed with a shotgun.

Men wheeling their load of scrap metal to a container in the DG scrap metal yard in Port au Prince. The metal scavenged from the streets and earthquake damaged buildings in Haiti's capital is then shipped to the US for processing.December 3rd 2010.

Fresnel Francois and sons bringing the body of a vehicle to his Cite Soleil street from the Champ de Mars. He Cut the car into pieces to bring to DG scrap yard where he expects beteen 200-300 haitian dollars for the metal.

Fresnel Francois and sons bringing the body of a vehicle to his Cite Soleil street from the Champ de Mars. He Cut the car into pieces to bring to DG scrap yard where he expects beteen 200-300 haitian dollars for the metal.

Fresnel Francois bringing the body of a vehicle to his Cite Soleil street from the Champ de Mars. He Cut the car into pieces to bring to DG scrap yard where he expects beteen 200-300 haitian dollars for the metal.

Fresnel Francois cutting up the hulk of an abondoned vehicle he scavenged downtown near the Champ Mas in Cite Soleil, he planned to bring the pieces to GS, a scrap metal buying company. Fresnel, a father of three, expects to be paid 1000-1500 gourds, between 40-60 USD for the metal. Scrapping, he says, is the only work he has ever done.

Fresnel Francois cutting up the hulk of an abondoned vehicle he scavenged downtown near the Champ Mas in Cite Soleil, he planned to bring the pieces to GS, a scrap metal buying company. Fresnel, a father of three, expects to be paid 1000-1500 gourds, between 40-60 USD for the metal. Scrapping, he says, is the only work he has ever done.

Fresnel Francois cutting up the hulk of an abondoned vehicle he scavenged downtown near the Champ Mas in Cite Soleil, he planned to bring the pieces to GS, a scrap metal buying company. Fresnel, a father of three, expects to be paid 1000-1500 gourds, between 40-60 USD for the metal. Scrapping, he says, is the only work he has ever done.

Fresnel Francois cutting up the hulk of an abondoned vehicle he scavenged downtown near the Champ Mas in Cite Soleil, he planned to bring the pieces to GS, a scrap metal buying company. Fresnel, a father of three, expects to be paid 1000-1500 gourds, between 40-60 USD for the metal. Scrapping, he says, is the only work he has ever done.

Fresnel Francois' sons working on the hulk of an abondoned vehicle scavenged downtown near the Champ Mas in Cite Soleil where they live, December 4th, 2010. After it iwas cut into pieces they brought it to DG, a scrap metal buying company. Fresnel, a father of three, expected to be paid 1000-1500 gourds, between 40-60 USD for the metal. Scrapping, he says, is the only work he has ever done.

A man working to loosen cement blocks from a downtown Port au Prince building. The January 2010 earthquake devestated that Haitian capital, nearly eleven months earlier. Abandoned buildings, the high price paid for scrap metal and high cost of building materials created an opportunity for some to earn a living.

A man puts a cinderblock on his wheelbarrow while is partner is working inside a destroyed downtown Port au Prince building. The January 2010 earthquake devestated that Haitian capital, nearly eleven months earlier abandoned buildings, the high price paid for scrap metal and high cost of building materials created the opportunity to earn enough to survive.